Despite brutal loss to the Lions, the Vikings received a tremendous grade for their 2024 season
The Minnesota Vikings might have lost in brutal fashion 31-9 to the Detroit Lions on Sunday night, but that game isn't representative of the entire 2024 season. As the Vikings head into the playoffs, they currently sit at 14-3 and are one of the best stories and teams in the National Football League. Quarterback Sam […]
The Minnesota Vikings might have lost in brutal fashion 31-9 to the Detroit Lions on Sunday night, but that game isn't representative of the entire 2024 season.
As the Vikings head into the playoffs, they currently sit at 14-3 and are one of the best stories and teams in the National Football League. Quarterback Sam Darnold is primed to win Comeback Player of the Year and head coach Kevin O'Connell is set to win Coach of the Year.
Vikings receive high praise from NFL Analyst
Now that the regular season is over, analysts are starting to look back on what happened over the first 18 weeks. CBS Sports' Will Brinson gave the Vikings an A for their performance, one of 10 teams with an A or A+
The only thing marring a 14-win season is a lack of a division title and the lackluster performance Sunday night against the Lions in what was a moment for the Vikings to really establish themselves as a big boy in the conference. They've got the personnel to do damage and are favored in the wild-card round against the Rams , but Sam Darnold crumbling on the biggest stage against a banged-up Detroit defense definitely raises a red flag. Still, Kevin O'Connell got the most out of this situation as he appears to do every year, wildly outperforming expectations after losing Kirk Cousins in free agency this offseason and seeing J.J. McCarthy go down with an injury during the preseason.
Brinson makes some really good points here. There isn't much you can say bad about the Vikings' season as a whole. There were a couple of injuries that hindered the Vikings, especially left tackle Christian Darrisaw. They also lost J.J. McCarthy, Mekhi Blackmon, and Khyree Jackson before the season, but the Vikings were great in overcoming those injuries.
Now comes the tough questions, as Brinson alludes to the red flag of Darnold laying a dud against the Lions in the biggest game of his career. How does that impact the Vikings potentially bringing him back? Luckily for Darnold, he's got a chance to redeem himself.
The Vikings took a "rebuilding year" and turned it into a special one with a 34-17 start to the tenure of O'Connell and general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah.
How the Vikings re-signing QB Sam Darnold would affect the salary cap and impact building a Super Bowl roster
It’s a very complicated situation
Kevin O’Connell addressed trade rumors on Monday and gave a very noteworthy response
His response said everything you need to know
